As a doula, I attended a monthly "women with women" group meeting yesterday. The premise of the group is that it is birth professionals supporting other birth professionals, so it's a place and time to discuss the local birth community, share stories of your latest experiences, and ask questions.

It was my first time attending one of the meetings (you have to be personally invited by another member before you get added to their listserv...a little strange to me) and I wasn't fully prepared for what it would be like. I mean, it was all of the things it claimed to be, but there was also a lot of personal sharing and vulnerability going on. Lots of tears and hugging.

One of the "seasoned" doulas (she's 60, with 5 kids, and has been a doula for 30 years) was talking about the importance, for women, of having or creating a "safe space" to be completely open and vulnerable. Part of the discussion was that a doula can become that for a client, but also that every woman needs to establish a friendship or support group where she can share her entire self without fear of judgment, and grow emotionally through her shared experiences.

I will fully admit that I was a little uncomfortable with everything. I am just not a person who does the vulnerability thing well. I feel like I can be a very good source of support, but I'm not sure I feel like I can reciprocate by opening up completely (nor do I even really know what I'd open up about.)

I have a best friend and I have my sisters who I am very close to and talk about most things with, but it felt like the message I was getting was that I need more that.

What do you think about this? Do you have a "safe space"? Do you think it makes sense?